Militants still present in Lal Masjid complex started on Thursday evening to use heavy artillery against Pakistani security forces and posed great threat to residents in the neighborhood in the capital, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.

A rocket launcher was fired from Lal Masjid to the security forces Thursday evening, APP quoted Spokesman of the Ministry of Interior Brigd. (R) Javed Iqbal Cheema as saying.

Cheema also said that the Lal Masjid militants are in possession of land mines.

Firing, heavy gunfire, blasts and heavy shelling continued the whole night and came to a standstill at Lal Masjid on Friday morning, according to a Pakistani newspaper The News.
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Briefing a news conference, Cheema asked Abdul Rasheed, deputy chief of Lal Masjid, to release all children and female students who had been kept as hostages in the mosque complex, according to APP reports.

The safety and security of Rasheed will be assured if he unconditionally surrender with other militants in the mosque, Cheema said in a statement.

Religious students of Lal Masjid snatched arms and wireless sets from the security forces in the capital, triggering cross fires.

(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2007)